By Kevin Nious and David K. Li - NBC News
Bryan Kohberger, the suspect in stabbing to death four college students in Moscow, Idaho on Nov. 13, remained silent during the arraignment of the charges against him at Monday's court hearing that paved the way for his trial to be held in the coming months. The judge read the five charges presented by the prosecution and the prison sentences that can be attached, asking the defendant if he understood them. To each of the questions, Kohberger replied, "Yes."
But when Latah County District Judge John Judge asked the suspect to plead guilty or not guilty to the allegations, his attorney, Anne Taylor, stood up and on behalf of her client said, "Your honor, we will remain silent."
That prompted the judge to make a plea on behalf of the defendant of not guilty [as required by law in these cases] and scheduled a tentative date for the start of the trial: October 2.
Prosecutors now have 60 days to give notice of whether they will seek the death penalty at the trial, which is expected to last six weeks.
Bryan Kohberger enters the courtroom for his arraignment hearing, Monday, May 22, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho.POOL/REUTERS
Kohberger, 28, was wearing an orange inmate jumpsuit when the charges against him were read, one for robbery and four for the first-degree murder of students killed Nov. 13 near the University of Idaho.
[Missing boy's body foundin New York]
The charges were released last week by prosecutors, who say Kohberger "illegally entered" a house in Moscow and "deliberately, premeditated and malice" killed Maddie Mogen, 21; Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20, according to court documents.
Mogen's mother and stepfather, along with Goncalves' parents, sister and aunt, were in court for the brief hearing. The mother, Kristi Goncalves, stood up and hugged Mogen's stepfather.
How he was arrested
The suspect, a doctoral student in criminology at Washington State University, was arrested Dec. 30 at his family's home in Pennsylvania.
Investigators linked Kohberger to the crime scene through cellphone signals, security camera footage, a witness in the home and a knife sheath that would have been used for the cinnamon leather stabbing, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in January. That knife accessory was found near Mogen's body and had Kohberger family DNA, according to court documents.
A pillow with a red stain and 12 strands of hair: What they found in the Idaho suspect's home
Jan. 19, 202301:24
Police picked up trash outside the Kohberger family home in Pennsylvania, and in that trash they found DNA that matched a high probability that it was from the father of the person who left the knife sheath in Moscow, investigators said.
[They reveal that a sixth person lived in the house where the students were killed]
The victims' roommate Dylan Mortensen told police she heard crying in the home early that morning and saw "a figure, dressed in black and wearing a mask covering her mouth and nose, walking toward her," according to court documents.
"He described the figure as 5'10 or more tall, masculine, not very muscular, but athletically built with bushy eyebrows. He walked past her while she was 'frozen with shock'. The man walked to the rear glass sliding door. [She] locked herself in her room after seeing the man," it said.
Kevin Nious reported from Moscow, Idaho. David K. Li reported from New York City.
